Three Kent councils accused of 'dodging democracy' by communities secretary Eric Pickles over tax increases
by political editor Paul Francis
Local authorities in Kent planning council tax hikes are
"dodging democracy" by not holding referendums giving voters a say,
says local government minister Eric Pickles.
At least three councils in the county have turned down
government grants
offered to help them freeze bills for residents and say they will
increase the tax this year.
All have done so at a level that means they need not
stage a public referendum to secure support for their budgets.
The three in question are Canterbury City Council, Tunbridge
Wells and
Gravesham.
Both Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells have proposed increases that
are just short of the 2% threshold that would require them to have
a vote. Gravesham says bills will rise by 0.4%.
Communities secretary Mr Pickles said councils were cheating
taxpayers and were "democracy dodgers" who needed a reality
check.
"Democracy dodgers who try creep in under the radar, putting up
their stealth tax by 1.99% in a bid to avoid our 2% referendum
threshold, need a reality check.
"We will take into consideration anybody cheating their
taxpayers. Anybody using loop holes will lose out next year."
He added: "I don't have a problem with councils that want
to put up council tax if they have a good reason - to fund local
opportunities.
"But I do have an issue if they don't ask permission first. They
have to man up. Be straight with people."
Canterbury City Council leader John Gilbey said the authority
faced no choice.
"People have said they were prepared to pay small increases in
taxes providing they keep their services or get improvements, and
that is what
we're doing. To be fixed and focused on freezing is something we
said we
can't go on doing."
Kent County Council, which is freezing bills again this year,
has hinted that it may not be able to do so next year.
Finance chiefs say in a report "an increase for 2014/15 cannot
be ruled out... neither can the possibility of refusing further
one-off council tax grant should it be offered."
28/01/13
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